City To Update Tamarack & Carlsbad Blvd

by The Editors on November 30, 2017

The City of Carlsbad is proposing some pretty nice upgrades to the area around the intersection of Tamarack and Carlsbad Boulevard right about Tamarack Surfing beach. Anyone who has tried to push a stroller or pull a wagon down the sidewalk above the Tamarack parking lot knows that the sidewalk there is way, way too narrow, not to mention that it is nearly impossible to cross Tamarack while walking on the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard. Thankfully, it seems all these problems will be corrected with the new plan. Here are some of the fixes:

Widening sidewalks and improving bike lanes throughout the area.

Adding new parking spaces on Tamarack Avenue and Carlsbad Boulevard.

Getting rid of the asphalt island on the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard and south of Tamarack Avenue.

Relocating the bus stops to more accessible locations.

Creating more functional space on the ocean side of Carlsbad Boulevard, just to the south of Tamarack, including an overlook with space to sit and enjoy.

A new crosswalk across Carlsbad Boulevard south of Sequoia Avenue to the lagoon trailhead.

Signs directing people to the Coastal Rail Trail along the railroad tracks between Tamarack and Oak Avenue.

Construction could start in the fall of 2018 and we’re looking forward to it. This will solve so many traffic problems for so many people. And if Carlsbad Boulevard gets cut down to one lane in each direction from The Village to Cannon we’d be even happier. For the official word from the City (including community meeting schedules), please follow the jump.

Area around Tamarack Avenue and Carlsbad Boulevard to get wider sidewalks, other improvements

The City of Carlsbad has completed an updated design concept for a project that will widen sidewalks, add free on-street parking and improve safety and access for all users in the area around Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue. The updates reflect input from the community and the results of technical analysis completed since the city released initial design concepts in mid-2016.

At a Glance

City staff are proposing a three-lane road over the lagoon inlet bridge to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Further study showed a roundabout won’t fit here due to the intersection’s topography.

The project also improves awkward bus stop placements, adds new parking and generally improves access to the beach.

Come by the grassy area near the Tamarack restrooms to talk to project team members:

Friday, Dec. 8, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 9, from 9 a.m. to noon

The new design concept shows a significantly wider sidewalk on the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard, just south of Tamarack Avenue, including over the lagoon inlet bridge, where walkers and joggers routinely use the bike lane to avoid the congested narrow sidewalk. The extra space is created by reducing the number of lanes on Carlsbad Boulevard from four to three, one southbound lane and two northbound lanes, between Tamarack Avenue to about 100 feet south of the lagoon bridge.

Off the table are a roundabout option and a four-lane configuration. Technical analysis showed that the roundabout wouldn’t work in this location due to the sloping topography along Tamarack Avenue and into the Tamarack Beach parking lot. The four lane road configuration would not enhance the experience for all users as much as the three lane configuration, and it would cost more.

The proposed improvements include:

Widening sidewalks and improving bike lanes throughout the area.

Adding new parking spaces on Tamarack Avenue and Carlsbad Boulevard.

Getting rid of the asphalt island on the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard and south of Tamarack Avenue.

Relocating the bus stops to more accessible locations.

Creating more functional space on the ocean side of Carlsbad Boulevard, just to the south of Tamarack, including an overlook with space to sit and enjoy.

A new crosswalk across Carlsbad Boulevard south of Sequoia Avenue to the lagoon trailhead.

Signs directing people to the Coastal Rail Trail along the railroad tracks between Tamarack and Oak Avenue.

The project area covers Carlsbad Boulevard from Hemlock Avenue to the sea wall south of the jetty at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon inlet, and Tamarack from Carlsbad Boulevard to Garfield Street. The project only proposes changes on land owned or controlled by the city. California State Parks owns and manages the beaches in this area.

Next Steps
After sharing the latest design concept with the public, city staff will complete the necessary environmental documentation, complete the preparation of construction documents and then request authorization to advertise for construction bids. Construction could start as soon as fall 2018 and would take about eight months to complete. The city would schedule construction to avoid peak beach-going times of year.

The city has budgeted $2.9 million for these improvements, which includes a Transnet Active Transportation grant from SANDAG that could cover approximately $1 million of that cost.

The City of Carlsbad is working on a number of initiatives to make it easier and safer to get to the beach and travel along Carlsbad Boulevard, the old Highway 101, whether by car, on a bike or by foot. The projects are all based on the Carlsbad Community Vision, a set of nine core values developed through a two-year public outreach process. The vision emphasizes maintaining Carlsbad’s small-town beach community character, sustainability, walking, biking and public transportation, open space and the natural environment and active, healthy lifestyles, among other values.